From higher education to technical training and workforce development, Redmond and the Central Oregon region have built a strong foundation from which educational opportunities continue to expand. This expansion has been in direct response to the needs of local businesses as well as to the education goals and objectives of the community itself.

As Redmond becomes the manufacturing hub for the region, demand has intensified for employees with advanced manufacturing skills. In response, the community has collaborated to design additional technical training for its workforce and to forge stronger pathways for students to step into manufacturing careers.

As an example, REDI formed a strategic partnership with Redmond High School to create a Career Technology Education (CTE) Manufacturing Program that offers students options for entering manufacturing and engineering programs at Oregon Tech and Central Oregon Community College. Other programs at the high school level include the Redmond Certificate of Manufacturing Proficiency (RCOMP) and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics). These initiatives have begun to make a significant impact, with local businesses providing internships as well as jobs to graduating students.

In the realm of higher education, OSU Cascades continues to expand its educational offerings with a four-year degree program and bigger campus. Central Oregon Community College (COCC) serves over 15,000 students a year, with programs in each of the region’s communities. In Redmond, COCC’s 25 acre campus serves students a variety of career programs and transfer-eligible classes. The newest building, the Technology Education Center, opened in Fall 2014.